[Discourses on sexuality at a Counseling and Testing Center: possible dialogues between health professionals and...

Due to the central role played by sex in HIV transmission, this paper analyzes the discussions on sexuality between health professionals and service users at a Counseling and Testing Center in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The methodology included direct observation of individual pre-test counseling and the use of 384 questionnaires and 14 interviews with service users. It was observed that counseling is preceded by filling out the epidemiological surveillance form and that, due to the lack of an adequate structure, there are inaccuracies in the process of gathering and recording the users' sexual practices. During counseling, STD/Aids prevention discourse is focused on the type and the number of sexual partners, on HIV risk and on condom use. This approach does not favor dialogue about the sexual trajectory of the users and their doubts and demands related to sexuality and Aids. The data from the questionnaire and interviews indicated that homo, hetero and bisexual categories were not familiar to the users. It is recommended that: counseling should be dissociated from filling out the surveillance form; the significance and diversity of sexual experiences of individuals throughout their lives should be incorporated in counseling training; investment is needed in the structural organization of the service.